Monochrome Work Up

[SpringfieldPhoto]

Here is the sequence of pictures from colour to high key Mono. The steps are:
1. Take a good colour image.
2. Convert to monochrome using LAB - Black and White technique in Photoshop
3. Adjust contrast using levels
4. In Camera RAW, Boost highlights, Boost whites and slightly boost blacks. Then use levels to adjust the amount of grey.

[Trev B]

You can’t tempt me Alan, still prefer the colour version.

[Lavenderhill]

Good series of photos, it is good to see the results of each stage and to be able to directly compare them one with another and see what the adjustments have changed.
Which is your favourite of this set Alan?
I think for me 1 and 2
Rose.

[SpringfieldPhoto]

I love the colour shot as it very much suits the model and her lovely tan. The first mono is too flat and lacking in contrast and I hate it. the next has good contrast and looks like a shot taken on Ilford Delta 100 film and I like that as a straight mono shot. The last is pure art treatment and moves away from photography but has its place.
I put this up as several people have asked in the past how I do the different styles of pictures so I thought I would describe the techniques and show the results. at each stage. I thought it might inspire people to play around with their pictures.

[El Sid]

Colour is of course lovely just as it is. Have to agree with that the second is rather flat - I assume this is the straight LAB conversion with little or no additional PP? The third I'd say is pretty much spot on for levels and contrast and retains the life of the original but without the colour. I think the last may well be top of my list, the high key adds to the lively feel of the subject and does it without sacrificing to much detail. Often I find that the high key treatment is overdone and the image becomes a little too harsh & graphical for my sensibilities.

Thanks for sharing.

[SpringfieldPhoto]

I agree about overdoing the high key often there is no grey just black and white . I believe that you need to leave some grey to give shape to the face. The main reason I like the technique is that it really shows off the eyes.